by Kelly Wood
“Must be a family trait.” Gray kissed the back of my neck. Another plus to the short hair? No obstruction for Gray to kiss me there whenever he’d like.
“I think I’m worried about her. She’s with Frank a lot. She was with us when the pool blew and when my hair was fried. If the ‘prankster’ is escalating she could end up getting hurt.”
Gray didn’t respond right away.
“You know this is one of the things that drew me to you in the first place?”
“My terrier-like persistence?” I laughed.
“Your love of family. All of you are loyal to each other. You fight, but you will join forces to protect one another at a moment’s notice. Even if one of you is wrong.”
“Isn’t your family like that, too?” I asked.
“My family is kill or be killed. Always.”
“Not anymore.” I rubbed the back of his hand. “Am I wrong on this? Wanting to find out what’s happening?” I tilted my head sideways to look up at him.
“No. I don’t think so.”
“There’s more to consider than just my family,” I pointed out.
“Like?” Gray asked.
“Yours.”
“My family isn’t like yours, Regan. I wouldn’t even consider us a family in the conventional sense. They’re more just people I happen to know.”
“I get that. Kind of. But, are you prepared to face the fact that it could be your dad? Your mom?” As the thought occurred to me, I added, “Your uncle?”
The silence stretched again. “As of yesterday, you became my family.”
It was an answer, but yet, it wasn’t. I turned to face him. I wanted to make sure he understood the implications before we proceeded.
“Gray, are you really sure you want to know your father is a bad guy? It’s one thing to know the stories, it’s another to face them.”
“Regan, I’ve been facing them my whole life. I know who, and what, he is. If he is involved? Then so be it.”
I searched his face for understanding. I looked for any clue that he wasn’t ready to really see who his father was. His face was open and honest, full of love. I decided to trust him and take his words at face value.
“What’s the next step?” I asked.
“Surprise visit to my father to ask a few questions. You’re supposed to meet Grace today. That’s a start.”
“Do we split up?” I asked.
“No. We are a unit now. Together for all of it.” Gray linked his hand in mine confirming his comment.
“Okay. I think we should seek out Tony and Sal, also. Is there anyone else at the top of the list?” I asked.
“I think that covers it. Dad, Sal, and Tony.”
“What about Guy? He was never found. Frank does have what was originally Guy’s life.”
“I think Frank is right. Guy has to be dead. Why wouldn’t he have come back otherwise?”
“Maybe he couldn’t?” I suggested.
“After thirty years? Come on. You’re letting your imagination run wild. You’ve always been a sucker for a good story.”
“If he were dead, wouldn’t someone have stumbled upon the body by now?”
“Someone may have. Bodies are found all the time without ever being identified.”
“You have an answer for everything,” I said.
“Regan, we have to let the clues lead us. We can’t force a square peg into a round hole because you like the idea.”
I let it slide for now. We had three strong suspects to start with. Gray had a point. I did tend to jump to conclusions and my imagination had a tendency to flow freely. Just recently, I used Gray’s credit card to order a call girl because my imagination had run away with me. Of course, my hunch had been right.
“What do we do now?” I asked.
“We eat.”
“I like to eat.”
“You do.” Gray smiled and pinched my side affectionately.
Chapter Thirty
Gracie lived in the same gated community as Gray’s parents, right by the country club. Her home was small by country club standards. Most of the houses were grand McMansions. Gracie’s was a cozy ranch that could just have easily been in any neighborhood in my home town. I already felt right at home.
“Hello. Welcome.” Gracie greeted us as she opened the door. She stepped back to allow us to enter. “I thought we’d have some iced tea out on the patio. It’s another perfect day to be outdoors.”
“I agree,” I said. I shook Gracie’s hand. Gray hugged her affectionately. We followed Gracie through the house, exiting again onto a patio.
“Days like today remind me of my childhood summers. Well, minus the humidity.”
“Where did you grow up?” I asked.
“In Ohio.” She sat on a chaise lounge overlooking the golf course. I took the chair next to her. Gray sat facing us at the table. “I recognize a Midwestern girl in you. The tea is unsweetened.” Gracie raised her glass in a toast and winked at me.
“Oh, thank you! I miss regular old tea!” I picked up the glass next to my chair. North of the Mason Dixon line, sugar was optional in tea. I’d noticed over the years, the farther south you go, the sweeter the tea, while the farther west you go, tea wasn’t usually offered as an option.
The patio was covered with a wooden pergola. Plants hung around the perimeter and ceiling fans were installed every few feet. It felt very warm and inviting. I’d have loved to cuddle up with a book here and waste away the afternoon. Gracie must have noticed me taking it all in.
“I enjoy the outdoors. The fans help with the heat so I can enjoy it for longer,” Gracie said.
“I like the outdoors, too. It’s very peaceful out here. You’d never guess you were in Vegas except for the mountains in the distance.”
“This was the first place I found peace when I moved here. Right on this very golf course.”
“What brought you to Vegas?” I asked.
“My parents were killed in a car accident when I was seventeen. Mary Francis and Michael welcomed me into their home until I found my way. Mary Francis is my cousin.”
I looked for a family resemblance but couldn’t find any. Mary Francis was dark-haired with dark eyes. She was cold and hard, like a beautiful statue. Gracie was blonde-haired and blue-eyed. She moved with grace, like a feline. Passion moved in— My mind snapped into focus. Passion could pass as Gracie’s daughter. I didn’t realize how much they looked alike until this moment.
“I’m sorry about your parents,” I said, hoping Gracie didn’t notice my lack of attention.
“It was a long time ago but thank you. The grass here reminded me of home. I would pack a lunch every day, walk over here and just sit on the grass. Only a small-town girl can truly appreciate the feel of grass under her feet.”
“Ain’t that the truth. I used to go to Lincoln Park in Chicago and walk around the grass barefoot. There’s a joy in feeling the grass between your toes.” Gracie smiled and looked back at the course.
“You get it, then? The green?” she asked.
“I do. Other than parks, the only grass in Chicago is two feet by four feet patches.”
I straightened my clothes and enjoyed the view before proceeding.
“So, you’ve known Franky for a long time?” I prompted.
“Oh, yes. He was the first person I met here outside of family.” Gracie blushed as she spoke. “I think he used to have a crush on me. A long ago, schoolyard crush. I’d see him watching me before walking over. Like he was getting up the nerve to talk to me.”
A shiver went down my spine. “It’s hard to imagine him without his confidence. Do you think he still has a crush on you?”
“Oh, no. Maybe up until recently, but I believe a certain dancer holds his interest now.”
“That’s nice.” I was a romantic at heart. I wanted everyone to find someone. I gagged a little thinking the dancer she referred to was also my sister. I asked another question to get the image of Frank and Passion out of my head. “Why
hasn’t he ever married? If you don’t mind my asking... you know, it’s just, he’s good-looking, rich, generous. I’d think women would flock to him.”
“The women flock, but he’s always kept his distance. I think the hotel is his first true love. For him, it was the ticket out.”
“Out?” I asked before sipping my tea.
“Can we keep this off the record?”
“Of course. The article is about the hotel, primarily. I just like to get to know the people involved, too, though. They are the heart and soul. The owners and how hands-on they are, the maids taking pride in the rooms’ appearance, the maintenance men we never see, but work so hard to keep everything running smoothly. Hotels fascinate me. They are their own little world.” I stopped talking when I realized I was babbling on. Other than Gray, no one knew I’d quit the article but I was still nervous at the deception.
“I like that. Franky has always believed in personal touches with the clients. He walks the floor multiple times each day, just to say hello to strangers. He buys drinks and cheers on winners. It’s really quite nice to watch.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for the article. It is a nice touch.” I took a deep breath before plunging back in. Some interviews went smoothly while others were like pulling teeth and made me nervous. “Back to ‘getting out.’ What were you referring to?”
“Franky was raised by an abusive, alcoholic father and a weak mother. As far as life went, his prospects for the future were slim, except that he befriended Guy Bianchi.”
“And that would make a difference?” I asked.
“To Frank, it was everything. Guy was walking back to the hotel one night and cut down an alley. Guy thought he was invincible, even as a kid, but three men tried to jump him–”
“Didn’t the men know who his father was? That seems like poor planning on their part,” I said, interrupting her.
“Do you know who Guy’s father was?” Gracie sat up straighter and turned toward me.
“Yes. I’ve spent a few hours at the library already.” My cheeks burned. I knew I was only doing my (fake) job, but I always felt like a Nosey Nellie when I did my research.
“It’s okay. Guy can’t hide it. It just... is what it is,” Gracie said.
“You talk about him like he’s still alive,” I said.
“Who? Guy?”
“Yes. Like he could come back.”
Gracie chuckled. “I guess, in my mind, he still haunts me. It’s like he’s here and gone all at the same time. Everywhere I look, I see him. Sometimes, I swear, I catch a glimpse of him but I know he’s gone.” Gracie looked away as sadness filled her eyes.
“I didn’t realize you were so close to the situation with the Bianchis,” I said.
Surprise caused Gracie to sit up straighter. She looked to Gray first and then to me.
“You don’t know? I assumed Gray filled you in on the family history.”
“Some.”
“Guy was my husband.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“What?!” I sat up too quickly, spilling tea on my skirt. I wiped it off with my hand, but little drops had already soaked into the fabric. “The articles I read said nothing about Guy being married. Actually, I could only find one small article on his disappearance. I looked for any follow-up articles on what transpired but couldn’t find a single word.”
“That was Mr. Bianchi’s doing. He kept it all as hush hush as he could.” Grace swung her legs around to the side of the chair. With her arms resting on her knees, she was leaning toward me. I turned in my chair to look at her head-on.
“We eloped and didn’t tell the family for a while. Actually, we came clean the day before he went missing. Antonio worked hard to keep the disappearance quiet. It hurt him terribly. He didn’t want his misery on display for the public. I greatly appreciated it, too.” Gracie paused before continuing. “I was young, recently orphaned, and now widowed, all in a matter of months. The baby was the only thing keeping the grief at bay. Without her, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
My mind was on overload. So much tragedy in such a short time.
“Baby?” I asked.
“Yes, I was in my first trimester when Guy went missing. The baby was the only thing that made me get out of bed. The only thing that kept me eating. It got easier as she grew, when I could feel her move and kick. I never felt alone. Of course, I swore it was a boy.” Gracie smiled and rested her hand on her stomach, remembering that time in her life.
“Where is your daughter now?”
“She lives in New York and is a fashion editor for a magazine. She loves the busy-ness of the city. I see her as often as I can.”
“I’m glad you had her. It must have all been very overwhelming, but how have you stayed out of the spotlight? I’ve looked at every image I could find of Frank. I’ve never seen you in one. I’ve never seen your name mentioned. How are you able to stay close to him, but—”
“Let’s get back on track here. Although, my story does overlap with Franky’s and with yours.”
I felt the confusion on my face. Gracie jumped from subject to subject. My thoughts were spinning trying to keep up. I looked to Gray for support. He sipped his tea and watched the show. I turned back to Gracie and addressed her. “Mine? How?”
“The ring Gray gave you. It was the one that Guy gave to me.”
“My ring?” I pulled my hand against my chest, covering the ring with my other hand.
My ring?
My sudden mama-bear overprotection of the ring startled me, causing me to drop my hands before changing my mind and bringing them back together. I fidgeted for a moment before finally pulling the ring off and holding it up to the light. To me, the ring was special, but now, I realized it was more so than I had thought.
“Gray has always been special to me. I was a faux-aunt to him. Taking him to the park to play, special days, just him and me. He was such a sweet kid. I love him like my own. He,” Gracie nodded toward Gray, “and my daughter, were the very best of friends growing up. Gray probably knows my love story with Guy better than anyone. It was his favorite bedtime story.” Gracie reached for the ring and I willingly gave it to her. “I passed the ring on to him a few years ago. I told him to find his own path and save the ring for the woman who would blaze the trail with him.”
My eyes found Gray’s. He had used those words with me before. Blaze a trail. Light twinkled off the band as Gracie twisted it in front of her.
“That’s really Gray’s motto, as you probably well know. He was unhappy here. He didn’t fit the mold that Mary and Michael wanted. It was frustrating to watch. I finally took Gray on a drive, gave him the ring and told him to get the heck out of here. He’s smart, so he listened.”
Grace and Gray smiled at one another, love passing between them.
“Where did you go?” I asked.
“Don’t you know?” Gracie had started at the question. “Chicago. That was the trip where he met you. He called me hours later and told me everything about you. At least, what little he knew then.”
“Really?”
I turned to Gray with a smile in my voice. “Why have I never heard this before?”
“I can’t give away all of my secrets.” Gray winked and smiled back at me. Electricity zinged between us. I wanted to sit on his lap and curl into him. “I would’ve married you the next day.”
“I would’ve run for the hills.” When I met Gray, I was commitment shy from a bad break-up.
“You did the first time I proposed, remember?”
“Unfortunately,” I said.
“I knew I had to take my time with you, ease you into the idea of a relationship. Waiting for you to decide to come with me to Costa Rica was the longest twelve hours of my life.”
“It was the best decision I ever made.” I reached my hand toward him. Gray grasped it in his and pulled me toward him. I got my wish and curled up against him. I laid my head on his shoulder and enjoyed the heat coming from him. Golfers cr
ested the hill behind Gray, reminding me that we weren’t alone.
My face flushed hot in embarrassment as I looked back over at Grace. I separated myself from Gray and sat back down in my original seat. I resisted the urge to fan my face with my hand even though I felt the heat of the blush.
Gracie handed me my ring back with a knowing look in her eye. Last night, I had not taken the time to really look at it. I was just so happy to have it on... to want to have it on. I took a moment to inspect it. The ring was smooth and white gold. I turned the ring so the sunlight would illuminate it enough for me to clearly see all of it. Etchings marked the inside of the band. I squinted to read the small print.
“‘Forever Entwined’. Did Guy put that in here?”
“Come inside. How about I fix us a little lunch and I’ll tell you about it.”
The layout was open so I wandered around the house, looking at photographs, and shooting her questions while she prepared the food.
“Your daughter didn’t want the ring?”
“She has plenty of personal items to remember us both by. Plus, I always taught her to follow her own dreams, not mine. The ring represents Guy, Gray, and now you, going your own way.”
“Guy didn’t want to follow in Antonio’s footsteps? He didn’t want the hotel?”
“He thought he did, until we met. After that he could picture a different life for himself, a simpler one. The hotel and the life it represented lost its appeal.”
I could understand that. The mob seemed way too controlling for me. I liked not having people in my business all of the time.
And, yes, I realized the irony since I was always in other people’s business. Like now, as I took in the photographs Grace had framed. I loved glimpsing others’ histories. Gracie’s daughter was stunning. She favored Gracie, but her face had harder lines. A shadow of the chiseled good looks of her father.
“So, Guy didn’t want the hotel, but went missing, so it’s a moot point. Why didn’t the other two brothers end up with it? How did Frank get control?” We danced around the subject of the mob. I was sure she must’ve known, and I was sure she must’ve known that I knew, but neither of us said it. Yet.
